Besides the four lectures before mentioned, (which were continued by Dr. Henry Hunter,) and several other publications, he was the author of answers to the Rev. Hugh Farmer’s Essays on the Demoniacs and on the Idolatry of Greece and Rome; in which productions he displayed much acuteness and learning. {184} After Mr. Fell’s removal to Thaxted, Mr. Newton of Norwich, Mr. Harmer of Wattisfield, and other ministers; continued to preach at Beccles; and the congregation had for rather more than half a year preceding midsummer, 1771, the services of a Mr. Cole. It is surmised that this must have been the learned BAXTER COLE, who, prior to 1765, was morning preacher to the congregation in Rope-makers’ alley, London, of which the Rev. Thomas Towle was pastor. In that year he went to Wymondham, in Norfolk, where he preached till May, 1766. He never undertook any pastoral charge; but was a close student, and superintended the printing of an edition of Dr. Lardner’s Works. He also revised some of the publications of the truly great Howard. Mr. Cole died at Sible Hedingham, in Essex, his native county, Oct. 13th, 1794, at an advanced age. He was a firm dissenter and Independent, a strenuous assertor of civil and religious liberty; and a man of considerable attainments, of the strictest integrity, and true piety. {185} But although the preaching of the gospel had been maintained with little intermission during the long period which had elapsed from Mr. Tingey’s decease, the church had suffered much for want of a stated pastor. Member after member had been removed by death, and none were added. In the meeting-house, where the remnant of the people usually worshipped, the Lord’s supper had not been administered for more than twenty years. No regular discipline had been kept up; and the interest itself seemed on the point of expiring. But it pleased God in answer to many prayers, to shine upon the decaying cause, and to unfold a new and more cheering era of its history.—“Happy assembly above, which knows no diminution, but rejoices in perpetual accessions to its numbers, perhaps in continual additions to its knowledge and consolations too!” {186} CHAPTER VII. Joseph Heptinstall—Early life—Settles at Beccles—His ministerial usefulness and character—His death—Isaac Sloper—Residence at Cheltenham—Acquaintance with Rev. Cornelius Winter—Studies for the ministry—Accepts the pastoral office at Beccles—His ordination—Afflicted—Visits his distant friends—Death of Mr. Winter—Meditation and prayer at the beginning of a year—Acquaintance with Mrs. Siddons.